Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Sharon Springs, NY, was once a bustling resort town built upon a natural mineral spring. It was thought that the high levels of sulphur, magnesium, and iron in the water provided a variety of health benefits, the exact specifications of which varied widely over the years. By the end of the 19th century, it was a highly fashionable escape from New York; patrons included the Vanderbilts and Oscar Wilde. By the time of the Depression, there were more than a dozen resort hotels operating out of the town, alongside a highly regarded golf course, a number of bath houses, and other amenities common to resorts of the era.

Among the last of these built was the Adler, which first opened its doors in 1927. Already the town was fading; Saratoga Springs was competing for, and for the most part winning, the patronage of the prestigious. Add to this the economic hardships of the Depression, which happened only a few years after the hotel was built, and the hotel was economically troubled from the beginning.

But after World War 2, the town again came into prominence, now as a getaway spot for wealthy German Jews, who were not welcomed easily at Saratoga. In 1946, Ed Koch, future mayor of New York, bussed tables at the Adler. The town was again booming, and the kitchens in all of the old resort hotels were made Kosher; in a phenomenon not unlike the Borscht Belt of lower New York, Sharon Springs became a major Jewish escape.

But the decline of resorts in general, as well as the building of the New York State Thruway, which bypassed Sharon Springs, took their toll. One by one, the resort hotels and bath houses closed; the Adler was among the last to shut its doors, in 2004. Since then, little has changed there - the occasional vandal has sadly snuck in, and there is graffiti vandalism throughout various areas of the hotel, including the grand dining room. But things are looking up for the hotel - unlike other notable Sharon Springs hotels, such as the Pavilion and the Washington, it was not demolished; now it has been purchased by a group which plans to restore it (as well as the Imperial Baths and the Columbia Hotel) and remake Sharon Springs into a resort community once again. Hopefully, this grand five-story Spanish Revival building will once again see life.

The grand lobby of the hotel, showing some original architectural flourishes.

A bedroom, with furniture still intact. The majority of the rooms in the Adler still have beds and dressers; in some cases, ancient TVs or old telephones add another glimpse into its past.

The third floor elevator.

A pile of old mattresses. Several rooms had clearly been disused longer than the majority of the hotel; many were used to warehouse surplus items such as these.

The grand stairwell running up the center of the building.

A fifth-floor room; note the tin still intact along the sloped ceiling.

A tiny bathroom, lacking a sink, inside a closet-sized room with a skylight on the top floor.

who owns the property now? are there any plans to renovate or demolish? and why do all these buildings just sit there when there are so many possibilities? great pics! i hope someone invests in this building..such a waste...

A big thanks for the interior pics as it is exceedingly rare to be able to see inside today! The building's exterior from my last viewing (about 3 weeks ago) had a much more run-down appearance. Your pics give it more life then I recall.

(While in the town, if you have the chance again, you should take a trip up to Clausen Farms on the edge of the town, just off Route 20 - a grand old Victorian farm house and casino, now B&B, with unmatched views)

The Adler property is owned today by a NYC-based group "Sharon Springs Inc." which is largely comprised of Korean-born businessmen. I happened to meet the principal once while eating at The American Hotel.

That group acquired The Adler (at the time still operational) and also couple of other non-operational, smaller Inn-sized hotels (one has since been razed) within the Village. They also acquired the Imperial Baths which were operational when acquired but since shuttered.

They bought it all lock-stock-and-barrel for under $800k. With a decent amount of fanfare and even a press conference they socialized plans to do something "big" in the community. That said the plans (initially to restore it all) have since not been backed with any visible signs of money, investment into the protection of the properties, or signs of stabilizing the properties. So what was a very hopeful sign of good things to come now have slipped into a state of concern. One has to wonder how long The Adler can continue to repel water off the roof, or avoid significant vandalism, or worse yet arson which has been sadly somewhat prevalent in the second half of the 20th century in that community.

The NY Times and other publications have cited the grand plans - ranging for $30M to $100M to be invested into a mega resort – but with a questioning eye. Again, no evidence of any money has been shown to kick those pie-in-the-sky plans off.

Under restrictions with the village the Adler property's facade will be an issue. Very recently the group privately tried to float an idea of a glass and steel dual tower with a cross-bridge which was rejected by the village. They could raze the structure and rebuilt a brand-new hotel but the facade would have to be the same in essence.

The 5-story structure of the Adler is grandfathered in with its height but otherwise could not be duplicated today under the village laws.

I've seen the town during its depths of decay a couple decades ago with an isolated, hauntingly fascinating grandeur. Today’s Sharon Springs is in many ways light-years ahead of that recent past, but so much still resides on the future of that highly visible hotel and the baths. If either structure was lost it would change the landscape of the community significantly not to mention erode the rich history even more.

I grew up in Argusville and went to school in Sharon Springs. Worked summers at White Sulphur Springs Baths. Shame to see all this grandure go to waste. Hope someone does something with it. Brings back a lot of great memories. Sharon Springs was the best place to grow up that I can ever imagine.

We've been photographing the beautiful ruins in Sharon Springs since the 1980's when it truly was a ghost town, at least in the winters. There are photos of these places in the books "Time Wearing Out Memory: Schoharie County"and "Old Houses".

My Husband and I were out driving one day and came upon the Hotel Adler, My god that is a beautiful piece of history! Is anyone going to renovate this property? It is to nice to demolish, it has history! If you want to raise money, give tours just as the building is now. My husband and I would love to stroll thru this piece of history. This hotel reminds of the old hotel in Portsmouth,NH called Wentworth-by-the-Sea. The Marriott Hotel chain return that hotel to it's heyday!

Hi,I am working on an art project documenting the decay in Sharon Springs thru a grant from NYS. It includes many mixed media works, interactive pieces, 2 dvds, and a lot of photography. I am in the process of uploading all the content.Luckily, I was able to get permission to go up close to Magnesia Temple...I am wondering how you got permission to get into the Adler? I called the company that owns it now, and after 3 Korean phone calls, I was told that going in was not possible.I will admit I did get in once, 3 years ago, right after it was purchased by the current owner, but I was trespassing and left.I am still working on this project. Is there a contact you could share?(http://www.sharonspringsdk.com)Thanks so much for sharing!

I grew up in Sharon and I worked several summers at the Adler and know just about every inch of it. It's sad to see the pictures with no furniture and no people. it holds a lot of special memories. I would hope that some significant renovation can be accomplished

I am from Belfast in Ireland. During the summer of 1969, when I was a student, I worked in the Adler Hotel as the elevator operator. It has great memories for me and seeing the photos on this website is very emotional. I am delighted to know it is still standing. Best wishes to its current owners. Perhaps one day I shall get to visit again. Alan H

I've been going to Sharon Springs since 1993 and my daughter and I went back there today, letting everything seep in.

I'm a writer (columnist for Metroland magazine in Albany; columns are 'reckonings' at www.metroland.net) and over dinner tonight I had this massive epiphany--I will write a novel set in Sharon Springs using the vantage point of characters to reveal the changing nature of such an odd and wonderful place.

I know this sounds vague and the idea is, as yet, barely a blastocyst. But I'm serious--so if anyone has information to share, please let me know at graepage@gmail.com

I and my husband stayed at this hotel, as I now understand, in the last year of its functioning. We reserved it with absolutely no clue about its reach history. All I can remember is that my relative suggested this town for a last minute get away. Also, it was close to our home in NJ. When we arrived I got spooky. We were served dinner in an empty restaurant. Later I realized that we were if not the only couple staying there then we were one of the few families in this huge building. I was even more surprised with the fact that the owners immigrated from Romania where my mother lived also when she was a child. I travel a lot but I will never forget this place. One more thing it did look like a "place for ghosts" especially when we were coming back at night after a walk and a wonderful meal at the near by Italian restaurant. As a matter of fact, I came to this site when I tried to look for a weekend getaway to Sharon SPRING. I thought it was already renovated. I wish I had the money and power to do it.

These pics are incredible. My parents met there back in the late 60's, she was server and my dad was the lifeguard! They are both still married to this day. We have been driving by and peaking in the windows since I was a little girl. Like the previous posting mentioned, to only be rich, it would be nice to be the one who owned it.

From a recent discussion with those in the Village government, the owners have since stopped paying taxes and any ceased basic care on any of their properties in the Village.

The once grand plans now hard hit by this economy likely means they'll either look to unload the holdings or just retain control for as long as can legally and financially.

Its quite a shame and the Imperial Baths, also owned by this group, appear to visually drag the community down more so then the Adler. That complex of structures right on the main street of the town is crumbling rapidly.

The aforementioned Clausen Farm in my prior posting is no longer operating and has since been assumed by a bank in foreclosure.

Sadly it would appear the town which was seeing a rebirth is just perhaps returning to its dark days again.

Dear anonymous of NJ,My husband and I also came to Sharon Springs on a weekend getaway. We were captured in the vortex and left that weekend with a house! Boy was my husband mad but now we've got such a peaceful getaway that our guests don't want to leave! During the renovations, we stayed in almost all overnight lodgings except for the Adler. I wish we could have had the experience of dinner there at least. Lucky you!

I used to work there in the 80's as a summer job and man do these pics bring back memories!! The "private dining room" was actually the tea room. Some things look the same as when I worked there!! Nice to see these pics.

many years ago National Geographic Magazine ran an article about the architecture in Sharon Springs.I think I remember reading that it is the only one of its kind in the USA.I wish I could find that article again. If anyone knows about it please share what year and month it was in.

There's a similar hotel in mineral wells, texas. It looks like it was amazing at one point. Wish I could go take a tour of it. I think it is completely abandoned now, even though it is the largest building in town.

Hi, the village is beautiful, full of history. I stayed at the Paradise Inn across from the Wellington House. It was such a nice experience. We wandered about and visited all of the historic site. I can't wait until Spring.

hi just wanted to say great photos been there a few times love the building but your photos are a lie , it needs so much work must be you only photographed the nice rooms considering this place is huge and it not all that nice .. so keep that it mind . thanks someone close by.

I feel I must respond to the above poster who stated that "hi just wanted to say great photos been there a few times love the building but your photos are a lie , it needs so much work must be you only photographed the nice rooms considering this place is huge and it not all that nice .. so keep that it mind"

In fact, these photos were taken years ago, before the Adler reached the (sadly vandalized) state it has at present.

I first visited the location in 2006, and it was pristine. In 2008, the graffiti and copper scrapping had begun in earnest, and I'm told that today the building is more or less trashed, with some "clean" shots left to be taken. It's a shame, but this is what happens when local hooligans and copper scrappers start spending time at a historic location.

Regardless, the photos are indeed representative of what the Adler looked like at a certain place in time.

Hello. I drove by this magnificent Hotel in 1981 and it has been on my mind ever since. I was just fascinated by this Hotel and what it offered in the early 20th Century. Your website gave me alot of info that I couldnt find before this. Thank you. I really hope someone renews the History of this area.

Just yesterday my husband and I stopped in Sharon Springs to check on the state of decay. We were sad to see that the Adler is looking pretty irretrievable, but the American has certainly come to life in fine form and is doing quite well, as well as the Black Cat Cafe opposite, where we had a dandy lunch. For anyone curious about the past of Sharon Springs, I strongly recommend a walk through the lobby of the American. The proprietors have a wonderful collection of local memorabilia prominently displayed.

There is a sad grandeur to the village which is ephemeral and fading fast. We spent the night in the Adler once during its last year of operation and I'm glad now that we did, even if we weren't permitted to dine (the food was Kosher and you needed to stay a whole week to eat there). Clearly some sinister forces are at play now as the place looked very badly beaten. The weird old building above the hotel is looking extra spooky these days.

When we spent the night years ago, I can recall many Orthodox folks in their conservative black clothes treading the sidewalks and sitting on the porches of guest houses whose signs were still in Cyrillic. It was quite a cultural anomaly. Now those days have faded away completely; instead, the village has split into two entities, one a magnet for wealthy tourists (check out the Beekman Mercantile) and the other a rapidly crumbling ruin. That they exist together is eerily fascinating.

Nice to read all the comments. My grandfather owned a butcher shop in Sharon Springs from about 1940 to his death in 1967 and I spent most of my childhood summers there during the 1950's and 1960's. I actually remember Mr. and Mrs. Adler, who were quite elderly when I was a little kid. But they were delightful people. And the Adler Hotel was definitely the 'high class' place to stay in town.

It is awesome to see this site and the pics. My parents and i were regulars at the adler hotel. It was owned by the Yarkoni family. I would go there in the summer and a few times during the year from 1976 until 1998. I took my first steps there. I remember and have pictures of every part of the hotel. the kitchen where i used to eat breakfast. The cottages in the back of the hotel over the boardwalk. Babe the really fat cop who used to eat there as welll. The ballroom where they had sunday balls, with the little hotdogs and fruit punch. The road behind it. The waterfalls down the street behind the hotel. my parents even have a painting that was bought from a russian lady there. I remember the library, and especially the corner candy store where i rememeber getting fudgsicles for 10 cents. I the webmaster is interested in these pics contact me at mooshmoosh99@yahoo.com

Further to my comment on 19 June 2009, I still have a copy of the New York Times of 21 July 1969 with the headline 'Man Walks on the Moon'. It was left lying by the side of the pool by a guest from Room 309. I remember all of the guests and staff huddled round the only hotel TV on the previous day to watch the landing. The Weiders, who owned the hotel, were very kind to me as it was my first experience of working in America. I used to earn good tips by being Irish and saying 'Top of the Morning' and 'Begorrah' to my elevator passengers. Most of the guests were elderly and a few still had tattoo marks from their concentration camp days. I also remember the whiff of sulphur from the spa baths in the basement. Also a belated apology to one of the waiters who lived locally; I let his pet turtle escape by accident because I didn't know they ran faster then pet tortoises in Ireland. Alan H

I have wonderful experiences here. I worked as the Hotel Concierge for two summers from 96 & 97. I met some amazing people with amazing stories. I hope this hotel or whole town will be restored one day.

So glad to find these images as I was describing the town, and the Adler, to friends the other day. My husband and I, and three children, stayed at the Adler for a few nights (summer of 2000 or 2001--not sure which) when we were visiting friends in the area who recommended it (and their haunting photos of the springs there had also drawn us: Gross + Daley, who published their photographs in TIME WEARING OUT MEMORY).

It was an experience we will never forget! The only people there, aside from us, were maybe 20 or 30 Hassidic Jews who came each summer to take the waters at the spas (others stayed in boarding houses around the town). [One woman whom we met had been at Auschwitz and said that the German government paid for her spa treatments there.)

We toured the spas, but did not partake ourselves (now I wish that I had done, as well as brought a decent camera!), and were enchanted with the whole "out of time" experience.

I'm sure the Adler, in its heyday, rivaled any hotel in the Borscht belt a bit further south. The dining room was kosher, a new experience for us, and we even got to partake in some of the weekend entertainment in the ball room. The other guests were very friendly and seemed delighted by our children.

The rooms were very retro/70s and looked like they hadn't been updated since 1972. You could tell the whole place needed an infusion but we were glad to be part of its moldering state.

And I rather liked that it hadn't been discovered or ruined. Now I hope that the Adler and the springs can be restored and reinfused in some way.

I am so enjoying reading and discovering so many things about Sharon Springs. Where is the Adler located? Such a small town with so many huge hotels must have been a beauty in it's day...wish I had known about this treasure many years ago. I am so happy it's coming alive again even if the Beekman Boys draw the wealthy at least they are saving a piece of history.Your pictures are woth so much...keep writing ,I want to learn so much more.

The hotel Adler was a amzing place. I person worked there for many years. I meet my first husband there. We had two wonderful children togther. I also meet my best friend there that to this day I still talk to. i think he was the grandson or nephew of the owners. The last summer I worked there was in 2000 as the maid. Most people that come to the ALder was amazing. They would talk and telling stories some good and so that would scary and thank god that you was not one. I remeber as a young I had my name tattoo on me and a elder man sat me down and showed me his tattoo. His was numbers. He told me about how he was in the camps and they where only known by the numbers on there arm and how days would go by without food. He shared that his tattoo was a scare of all the hurt he had went thru and that i should respect my body more. Today, I took my oldest daughter there and showed her that The gist of the alder was her dad. It was because of that placce I had two amazing children and a lot of memories that will last a lifetime. The elevotor that a lot of people speak about is a old fashion manual on that you must pull a lever to up and down. You have to close the door and everything.

I also read a lot about people saying it is ghostly there. They story behind that can be true. The fifth floor was closed off to everyone. I was told by that a maid was murdered there. I got gusty when I was working there in 2000 with my second husband and we walked up there. Well, i will say I did not stay up there long at all. If you all think that that bathroom is scary you should of seen the fifth floor. The images that was shown with the metal bed was the 4th floor images not the fifth. The Fifth floor had been closed off since the early 80's every since the maid had passed away.

hi i grow up in Sharon springs my grand parents came there in the late 60s thy bought 1 hotel & 2 big rooming house's we had a grocery every Sunday used to come 2 or 3 bus'es to bring & take home pppl. later in the 90s i least the Washington hotel from yarkony & i ran it for 8 year's on till the roof fall down from the wavy wait from the snow, i love Sharon springs i still go there today...i was there 4 weekends this summer & will be there a few more... (come join me..lol )i know everything about this town i had brought a lot of group's to the adler's i know this building inside out, the fifth floor was close't because it was in very bad condition, i never heard from nobody about the girl being kill'd there, i think its not trough,its a shame that the pepel who bought the plays don't take kar of it & they lust let it fall down,

i have name's & phone number's to the new owner's i have contact them in hope's to buy the adler hotel or the Colombia to renovat it & open it for business so pepl can enjoy this beautiful plays 1ns again but they still had big plans so thy didn't wanna sell anything. i am trying now again.if anyone is interested in helping invest in Sharon springs pleas post here you'r contact info, together we can bring it back to its old glory days,kimberly i think remember you, was you'r husband the baker there??

I stayed with my boys at the hotel in 2011 on a road trip to the baseball hall of fame, not knowing the history of the hotel, i found the people so warm to us all, they had just installed a new outdoor pool which they gave my boys the key too, since we were swimming of friday night ( they held temple services in the lobby) we were invited to the services (we are not jewish) but found it very warm of them to include us. It was one of best road trips. sorry to hear that it has closed.

I worked at the Columbia during the late 1960s as a busboy and waiter while I was in college. The hotels were old even back then and most were dry fire traps. It was a great experience and we went back to Sharon Springs in 2008. The Columbia was closed with police tape across the door, the front porch was collapsing and everything was overgrown. We looked at several of the grand old hotels and it's pretty clear they are near collapse and should be razed before they burn. The American is very nice, but the money to renovate larger ones just isn't there.

Further to my comment from Ireland on Oct 13, 2010. Kimberley mentions the elevator in her posting of May 17, 2011. I was the elevator boy for the 1969 summer season. The elevator was totally manually controlled. It had a large brass up/down lever. There was no automatic levelling so the elevator had to be visually aligned at each floor to avoid trips for passengers; quite a skill with a full load! I had to be on duty early each morning before the first guests arose to transport them down to breakfast. At the Grand Lobby the gates were old-fashioned open metal lattices and would be a safety hazard today. The bed under the sloping roof and the small toilet in the photographs were in the attic staff quarters. I cannot believe I used both 42 years ago and can see them again via the wonders of the internet! Alan Houston.

Incredible, that of a attractiveness this really is. I'm taking pleasure in your own fantastic photos and i am very envious that you've authorization to get in this kind of magnificant constructing. Incredible once again!

The beauty of Sharon Springs itself cannot be described. It is a place so rich in history but few know it exists. The Adler, itself, has been a place for employment, as well as, enjoyment! It does not need to be made into some modern structure! It needs to be renovated to it's original state. The folks in Sharon Springs are not looking for a developer that will change the town so drastically! They would rather see it brought back to it's heyday!Most of Sharon Springs has worked there at one time or another. They have experienced most of their memories there. Wedding receptions have been held there due to it's atmosphere and beautiful grounds. It would be a shame to rip all of those memories from them. More so... it would be a shame to just let it fall into ruins! I hope this is taken into consideration.

Years ago I read an article in National Geographic about unique architecture in USA (or something along that line) Sharon Springs was highlighted in the article stating the architecture could only be found there and in Europe (Poland...maybe)I would love to read the article again. Anyone know about it?

Sharon Springs is very much like a have a heart animal trap. Once you discover it and think you might be able to help, it never really lets you out. It can consume every dime and even contibute to the death of your wife. But the experience was most interesting and had I not been the only real estate agent in the area willing to deal with gays from NYC, the American House would not look as it does today. Without those two gentleman and one or two other very hardy souls, it all would have gone the way of my Inn. Burned to the ground by locals. So beware the Village is very mysterious, compelling but also as Gene Pitney once sang, It is a town without pity.

I too worked at the Adler in the summers of 1967, 68, 69, and 70 as a chamber maid. The hotels in Sharon Springs provided a great chance for local kids to work and "discover" the world outside of rural upstate New York. I am particularly interested in Alan H comments and anyone else who might have worked there in any of those years. Looking to revisit my time spent there.

We used to have a home in Sharon Springs and went there for the summers. I worked with a friend at the Washington Hotel and the Columbia Hotel as a busboy. I spent many summers there until I started college. The town was beautiful every one knew everyone. Half the people were from NYC and the other half were from Miami. The townsfolk did not like the out of towners and were unfriendly except to take our money during the summer months. I remember the street dances on the steps of the Imperial Baths. Gurell's Candy store and the Hayes Department Store on Main Street. The Post Office was also on the main street Rt 10. I recall the movie theater across the street from the American Hotel by Division Street and Pepper's Kosher Butcher. The Satmar Rebbe used to stay down Division Street. Our house was next to the synagogue and across from the Washington Hotel and Kreiger;s Rooming House. The Comfort House and Rubin's were up the street from us. My friend's mother and father owned the Swift Cottage. As kids we used to go to the Mudhole to swim and take hikes in the woods. It was a great place to spend my summers as a kid growing up. Cobleskill and Canajoharie were nearby and we used to the Beech Nut Gum factory to get free gum after the tours. The ice cream in that area was the best. Schoharie County had incredible dairy farms.

The pictures of the 2 hotels bring back wonderful memories. And the aroma of Sulfur as yu you rode into town was unforgetable.

I drove by there once in the 90s and I had no idea it was still open. I wasn't even sure where it was until I was in the area again earlier this week and I passed by the Adler again. I just remembered thinking how amazing that such an out of the way little place could have such huge resort. It is too bad it can't be preserved.

My cousins grandparents and parents owned The Adler and I spent a lot of time there both when it was thriving and then when it wasn't as much. I used to go to eat breakfast in the kitchen and bake with Marcus the baker,operate the manual elevator, answer phones at the switchboard, play shuffleboard and dance on the stage - all for fun! Thanks for posting these pictures and bringing back some very special memories and for keeping them alive.

I grew up in Sharon Hill...just outside the village.I have traveled to sharon springs on many occasions and it saddens me to see the CRUMBLING of these Great and histroric Hotels/motels.But it also Angers me, because alot of this is the Towns peoples own fault. they are closed minded people who dont like GAYS, Fracking or ANYTHING that will bring restoration to the village!!!Numerous ppl. have tried to purchase and have been shot down by the TOWN for one reason or another.My ex-sister-in-law's uncle and his wife owned THE ADLER HOTEL--The WEIDERS from FLA.Im sorry to be harsh, but my friends and family still living in Sharon need to wake up and smell the coffee.....cuz w/out these "OUTSIDERS"(gays or entertainers) coming in and offering to renovate the Village of Sharon Springs will crumble and fester.Anonymous...

I've been inside it many times a few years ago. The one time, back in the fall of 2008, a few friends and I looked around. We had a group of about 6. Well, we happened to be experiencing some pretty paranormal stuff on the higher floors. I saw a woman on one floor walking around and then disappearing, which is why I think it's interesting that Kimberly says a maid was killed on the fifth floor. I didn't believe that I saw anything at first so I scoffed it off and just continued to look around. It was a few minutes after that that a female friend in the group screamed and came running out of the bathroom. After she calmed down, we asked her what was wrong and she said she saw a woman standing behind her in the bathroom mirror. The Spa levels are even more terrifying and if you do happen to end up down there, be careful. I guess the floor is collapsed in some places, yet the carpeting is still intact. So basically it's like a covered hole. Not to mention, it's pitch black down there. I also get chills when I look at the ticket booth. It's as if there's someone behind the glass watching you. I went to the hotel a few times after that but I stopped going after a few years.

I recently ran into a friend who told me a bit more history about the place. Apparently a woman lost her son in that hotel and he drowned in one of the spa tubs in the basement. So what happened next is her husband blamed her for the death of the son and she hung herself off one of the staircases. I am curious to know if this is true.

I never vandalized the place, and I can't believe the damage and graffiti that is plaguing and taking a toll on the Adler. I went there a couple of times back in the 90's when it was still beautiful and up and running. After so many years, you think someone would come and fix it already. It's getting worse by the day.

Was just at the Harvest Festival in Sharon Springs. The Adler is hauntingly beautiful. Why is it in Europe these great places are cared for and in this country it seems we just let them decay. Such a shame. They just don't build them like this anymore. Someone, anyone please come to the rescue.

Visited Sharon Springs last weekend as we are Beekman fans. Someone needs to buy back the properties from the Korean conglomerate, get busy and get these buildings back to their glory. The Imperial Bath would make a great event venue. What a shame it's been let go like it is. SOMEONE PLEASE RESCUE THESE BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS.

I was a bellhop at the Adler Hotelin 1950 and 1951. At the time it was far and away the most grandiose hotel in Sharon Springs.During a trip to Cooperstown and the baseball Hall of Fame in 1994,I returned to Sharon Springs and the Adler Hotel. The hotel haddeteriorated to a run-down,thread-bare dump. It was a sad sight tobehold.

I lived in Sharon Springs in the 50's and early 60's until I moved away. I remember going swimming at the pool every afternoon and riding my bike around there. The ice cream socials at the park where the gazebo is. I went back a few years ao to visit my old school there and drove down to the spa and saw the decay. It was so sorry to see this and remember how it was back when I lived in town. We used to use a lot of the streets down there for sledding in the winter because we didn't have to worry about any traffic during that time of the year.

What a great little bustling town it was back then. I had such a great childhood growing up there and it was a depressing thing to see how the town has been run down

Sorry to say this, but to keep these historic structures would take so much money and the right people to bring it all back.104

The Hotel Adler has been repeatedly vandalized with graffiti and kids destroying walls, furniture, etc. There is now closed circuit inside the hotel(not sure how as no electric service, but was told it is wireless and a neighbor monitors it. Several of my friends were arrested there Nov. '14. They basically broke in to take pictures. State Police showed up in force after 20 minutes (motion detectors?). Were arrested and had to pay fines over $2000 each. One friend was unable to pay and had to do county jail for 30 days. They aren't playing games! Had photos of them in the hotel, so no out there. BE CAREFUL!

In the early 80s, my dad and his girlfriend Diane were driving along Route 20, my sister and I in the backseat, when they came upon the sign for Sharon Springs. Diane turned to my father and suggested he drive through the town while she told us its story. We saw a rundown ghost town, with a large, decaying hotel on the main street. (My memory is of an old wooden structure missing all traces of paint or varnish... so probably not the Adler, unless "memory" has been replaced by imagination. A couple old men sat on its porch.) Diane told a story similar to the blogger's: the natural springs made the town a popular summer spot for wealthy Jews from NYC. But then came the explanation for the town's rapid decline, and here Diane's tale differs from the blogger's. The Great Depression and the construction of the Thruway, which bypasses the town, is a perfectly understandable explanation backed by historical truth. Diane's tale, however, is more fascinating than highway construction: she said there was a series of grisly murders, and that kept people from coming to Sharon Springs and turned it into the ghost town we saw all around us.

Diane was an intellectual who loved sharing the breadth of her knowledge with others, and she wasn't prone to lying, however I began to sense her story was "off" just a few years later, when I met a lifelong resident of Sharon Springs who knew nothing of these "murders" Diane told me about. Later, one of the first Internet searches I ever did after getting a PC was for "Sharon Springs murders." Nothing, and nothing since then, when I've periodically searched again.

So there weren't any murders, were there? That's a pity, because I have a macabre interest in true crime stories like that, and it makes for a more captivating story than "the state built a highway."

My parents meet in ss during the 40s . My g parents Owens the cobbler shop and my others owned the krieger homes.. I believe my grand father bought the krieger home in the early 20.sMy parents were a scandled of the 40 and 50s eloping and marry inter religions. .. They were married for 50 years until my dad passed and now my mom is gone. I have a few pis from back them.. and many stories.Those from the 40s are still around to ask questions of the town the could have beed.. I was named after the town where they meet and fell in love!Many summers where spent in ss.

My Daughter and I were recently in Sharon Springs, New York as I have property in Richfield Springs. The old Adler Hotel and the Imperial Baths are being totally renovated by a Korean Co. and renovation of the baths has begun, with plans for a communal pool in the back of the baths, to soak in the mineral spring water. I've been waiting a long time for someone or some Co. to renovate the Imperial Baths and they don't seem to have started on the Adler, but I'm heard by 2018 it will be completed.

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